Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Oct. 28, 1924.

."J. F. o'coNNoRV FHICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Original Filed July l2 Nw WN Patented Urt. 28, i924.

barren srarns namMmgsm-.y

JOHN F. OCONNOB, 0F CHICAGO, LLNOIS, ASSXGNOR, .BY` ASSIGNMENTS, T0

lN. H. MNER, INC., A CORPORATION 0F D714"Iii/''l-LRE. f

FRICTION SI-IOCK-ABSOR-BNG MECHANISM.

Application filed July 12, 1920, Serial To all fio/10m t may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN F. OCoivivon, a citizen of United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of @ook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and use ful improvement in Friction Shock-Absorbing Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had yto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

rThis invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft riggings wherein is obtained high capacity and certain release by the use of few parts of economical construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated wherein is employed an arrangement of friction shoes and wedges such that certain sets of faces thereof are wedge-acting and other sets non-wedgencting or substantially so during the compressive action of the mechanism, said sets of faces acting reversely during release whereby is obtained a relatively keen angled wedging effect during the compressive stroke and a blunt angled effect in release. p

A specific object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated wherein are employed a plurality of combined friction shoes and wedges so constructcd that the combined shoes and wedges are all duplicates and thereby interchange,- able, said parts being all made from'a single pattern to thereby minimize initial cost of manufacture and cost of maintaining parts for purposes of repair or replacement.

Other objects of the invention will .more clearly appear from the description hereinafter following. f

ln the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure l` is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view takeny substantially on the line 2 2 of Figure l. -ind Figure 3 is a` detail perspective of one of the friction elements employed in my construction.

ln said drawing, lO--lO` denote channel No. 395,459. Renewed Aprii 1o, i924;

shaped center or draft sills of a railwaycar to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugsy 11 and rea-r lstop lugs 12.k A. portion of a drawbar is indicated at 13 to which isconnected a kslotted cast `yoke 14 by means of a coupler key l5. The shock absorbing mechanismL properfhereinafter described, and a front follower 16 are disposed within the yoke. The yoke and movable parts associated therewith are held iii-proper position by a detachable saddlezplate 17. y n

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises,broadly, a com,- bined friction shell'and spring cagecasting A; a spring resistance, B; four duplicated elements C, C', C2 andr Cgand aretainer bolt D. f n c The casting A has the friction shell proper 18 formed at the forward or outer end thereof, said shell being of generallysquare formation as is [also the spring cage. .The shell has upper and lower walls l9--l9gand side walls 2020, the latter being provided on ytheir inner sides with flat friction surfaces 21-21. Thespring cage 22 constitut ing the rear portion yof the casting A isV provided with an integral rear wall 23 which is laterally extended so astoadapt the same to actas a rear follower. K, ,Suitable strength is obtained by bracing ribs and flanges 2li-2a. .y y

rlChe spring B is of usnalconstruction, the same embodying an youter heavy coil andan inner lighter nested coil, both coils bearing at their rearend against` the wall 23 and at their forward end against the element C12. The retainer boltD passes through suitable perforations in the elements (1,02, and rear wall of the casting A and through the center ofthe spring B. The bolt D is adapted to hold all ofthe parts in assembled relation and falso to maintain the spring underfan initial compression, when desired.

As heretofore indicated, all of the elements C, Cy, C2 and C? are of like construction and it will only be necessary to describe kthe structural featuresof one of them, iny der y tail. f Each of said elements is formed with a flat face 25 onone side and with faces 26 and 27y extending respectivelyL at relatively acute yand relatively blunty angles withyrespect to the face 25. Between thegadjacent edges of the faces 26 `and 27, each of said elements is formed with a concave recess ndicated at 28 constituting, in effect, approximatelyone-fourth of a cylindrical surface, as will 'be 'clear from an inspection of Figure l where all four of said elements are showny in their assembled position. Each of said elements is also centrally recessed as indicated at 29 to accommodate the bolt. the recess being enlarged at the side of the block corresponding to the flat face 25 to accommodate the head of the bolt or nut.

The four elements C, C, C2 and C3 are arranged as clearly slrown in Figure l. In this arrangement the element C has its fiat face 25 in engagement with the follower 16 its face 26 extending at a` relatively bluntiand non-'wedge-acting angle with respectto the axis of the shell when pressure is applied in lines parallel to said axis. The other face 27 of the element "C will obviously` extend at a relatively acute and wedgeacting angle with respect to the said axis when forces are appliedv parallel thereto. The elements C and C2 are oppositely disposed and the elements C and C3 are also llo'p'positely disposed. All four elements are symmetrically arranged with respect to a line corresponding to the axis of the cylindrical surface defined by the recesses 2S--28, e., a line which `would be perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing and passing` 'through the lpoint of intersection of the sec-r tion line 2-2 Yof Figure l and the axis of the shell.

. From the preceding, it will be seen that the rear sets of surfaces 26 and 27 between `the elements C and C2 will also be arranged at an obtuse releasing relatively non-wedgeacting `angle with respect to the axis of the shell and forces applied substantially parallel thereto. Similarly, the set of faces 27 and 26 on the ele-ments C2 and C3 will extend at a keen wedge-acting angle with respect to the axis and forces applied substantially parallelv thereto. Conversely, lthose twowv sets of faces which are at a relatively acute or keen wedge-acting angle with respect to forces applied parallel to the axis fwill be at a relatively blunt or obtuse non- 'v'vedge-acting `angle with respect to inwardly radially directed forces and those sets of faces which are at a relatively blunt angle during the compressive stroke with respect to forces applied parallel to the axis, will be at a relatively acute and releasing angle with respect to inwardly radially directed forces during release.

The yoperation is as follows, assuming an vinward or bufling movement of the drawbar. vAs the followerr16 is pushed rearwardl1 the outerelement C will travel in unison vt erewith .and spreading, or sliding or nevertheless the` spreading force will be equalized on the two elements C and C3 under the general law of action and reaction.

Agt the inner ends of the elements C and C3, a true and essential wedging action will occur between the faces 27 and 26 of the elements C2 and C3 respectively but no true or appreciable wedging action will occur between the faces 26 and 27 of the elements C2 and C respectively although the outward or radially spreading pressure willbe equalized as in the case at the outer ends of the elements C and C3. Obviously, the spreading pressure or wedging angle effect may be made unusually great or acute to obtain as high capacity as desired. During the continuance of the compressive action, the shell will be slightly expanded and enormous forces stored up in the shell. Upon removal of the actuating force, the shell will contract to its normal condition and effect a collapse or release of the friction elements on the faces 26 and 27 of the elements C2 and C, respectively and on the faces 27 and 26 of the elements C3 and C, respectively, thereby producing the effect. of a blunt-angled wedge during the release action. Furthermore, the spring will assist in the release action or collapse of the friction elements since the spring will exert a pres-- sure on the element C2 which will be effective in pushing out the element C because of the blunt angled engagement between the elements C2 and C. lNhile the said force tending to push out the element C will not cause any release or collapsing action at the engaging faces. of the elements C and C', nevertheless the element C constitutes, in effect, a rigid part of the element C and the outward movement of the latter will be communicated to the element C so as to eect a disengagement in a longitudinal sepaiating` manner between the faces 26 and 27 of the elements C and C3, respectively.

lt will also be noted that, irrespective of the contracting forces of the shell, and considering the element C at the moment when the bufng or compressing force ceases, said element- C is free to drop away from or disengage itself from the element C since the face 27 of the element C3 opposes no resistance thereto. Following this, it is also evident that the element C is free to disengage itself from the element C2 since the faces 27 and 26 of said elements C and C2 likewise oppose no resistance thereto. rIhis in turn leaves the elements C2 and C3 free to functionally disengage with respect to each other and the element C3 with respect to the shell.

As the parts are initially released or collapsed, as hereinabove described, they are all relatively loose with respect to each other and may be readily projected outward by the spring and, in reaching their normal position, which is determined by the fixed over-all length of the mechanism', they are free to be automatically adjusted with respect to each other and to assume the initial norinalor full release condition. It will be noted that `ample clearance is left in the openings 29 for the retainer bolt to allow for lateral shifting of the wedge elements C and C2 `1 and in this connection, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the actualr amount of suoli lateral iiioveinent`in actual practice, is comparatively small kwhen stated;

in ternis of lineal measurement.

B f the term wedging as herein used and applied to the faces 26 and 27 of the elements C and C respectively, l mean that,

during a compression stroke of the mechanism, said face 27 will slip on the face 26, due to the component of force being great enough to exceed the friction between said faces. By the term non-wedging, as 'herein used and applied to the faces 26"and27v of the elements C and C3, respectively, l

mean that, in a compression movement of the mechanism, there will be no appreciable slippage of either of said faces 26 and 2? on the other. lf there should be such slippage in either direction, it does not interfere in y any way with the operation of the mechanism during compression and functions as what may be termed a safety valve for the parts with the certain result that the trans` versely opposed keen angle faces are rendered' effective during compression of the mechanism and that release of thev mechanisni will take place freely and without cifiiculty by reason of the blunt angle of saidk of replacement. Furthermore, in the event excessive wear occurs on the two elements C and C3, i. e., those elements which normally act as true friction shoes, the positiony thereof may be changed so as to employ them as the outer and inner elements corresponding to those referenced C and C2 andl the latter substituted as the true friction shoes, thereby prolonging the life of the parts without additional expense.

l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention but the sameis merely an illustration of only one of numerous embodiments of the invention andl contemplate all changes and inodilicat-ions that come within the scope ofthe claims appended hereto. f

I claim:- i

l. ln afriction yshock absorbing mechanism, the `combination withfa shell having longitudinally, extending c friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; and a plurality of like Vfriction shoesand wedge elements coo-perable with said friction shell and with reach other, said elementshaving cooperating yengagingfaces, ysome arranged at a relativelyr acute wedge-acting angleand others ata relatively blunt non-wedge-acting angle duringv the compressive action.

2. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a frictionshell having n, longitudinally extending friction surfaces; kof aspring resistance, a plurality of friction shoes; and a plurality of wedgiiig'eleinents, saidy shoesfand wedging elements havingfcooperating engaging faces, some of whichare arranged at a relatively acute wedge-acting angle and othersat ,a

non-wedging angle with respect to the axis f of theshell when actuatingforces are applied substantially parallel thereto in a compression strolre. -f

y l $50. 3. ln friction shock absorbing nfiech'a-` nism',fthefcombination with a friction shell having longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of aspring resistance; and .four

elements movable with respect to r4che shell, two of said elements` constituting friction 'shoes y and the remaining two acting as wedges and disposed yat the opposite: ends of the shoes, each element havingy ytwo `i faces, one of ywhich :extends at a krelatively acute wedging angle and the other `aty a nonwedgin'g angle with respect to the axis of n the shell whenactuating kforces are applied substantially parallel thereto in a compression stroke. n f Y y 4C. lua frictionishoclr absorb-ing mechanism,.,the combinationwith a friction shelly having interior longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of a spring resistance, a

pair .of oppositely disposed friction shoes of like construction but reversely ar anged and each having a pair of facesextendingat different angles ywith respect tothe axis of the shell; and a `pair of wedge members of like vconstruction and reverselyy arranged, one

being disposed at the outer ends of the shoes and the other atthe inner ends of theshoes, saidy wedges having faces;corresponding to the faces' of ythe shoes.' y 'i 5. ln a 'friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell f having c longitudinally extending friction,

surfaces; of a spring resistance 5v and four elements movable with respect tothe shell i" andfc'ooperable therewith, each kof said elements havingftwo faces extending one at a f,

relatively acute and the other ata relatively blunt yangle with `respect to the axis of the shell, two of said elements acting asy friction shoes, a third as a pressure-transmit-- y and ting member and the fourth as a Wedge follower having engagement with one end of the spring resistance.

6. ln a` friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior friction surfaces; of a spring resistance; a plurality of elements relatively movable with respect to the she-ll, said elements being all of like construction and each formed with tivo faces, one of which extends at aA relatively acute and the other at a relatively blunt angle With respect to the axis of the shell, each of said elements having also a central opening; and a retainer .bolt extending through the openings of some of said elements.

i' in a friction shock absorbing mechai" the combination with a friction shell ha ng friction generating areas on the interior thereof, said shell being subject to expansion and contraction laterally; of a spring; and a friction unit comprised of a plurality of elements having 'a plurality of 1 of cooperating blunt non-Wedging faces plurality of sets of Wedging faces when pressure is applied ina direction substantially parallel to the center line of the sie in a compression stroke, theffaces of n ml said non-Wedging sets being relatively shiftin release to facilitate collapse of the f ction unit.,

8. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having frictiori-generating areas on the ini terioe' thereof, said shell being subject `to 'expansion and contraction laterally; of a spring; and a friction unit comprised of a plurality of elements provided With a plurality of sets of cooperating` faces extending t a relatively acute angle With .respect to tie axis of the shell and a plurality of sets of cooperating faces extending at a relatively blunt angle with respect to the axis of the shell, said sets of faces having such a relation that the application of forces in a compression stroke will exert a Wedging movement on said setsof acute-angled faces only.

Sl. ln, a friction shoclr absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having friction-generating areas on the interior thereor, said shell beingv subject to expansion vand contraction laterally; of a spring; and a friction unit comprised of a plurality of elements having a plurality of sets of cooperating blunt` non-Wedging faces and a plurality of sets of Wedging faces when pressure is applied in a direction substantially parallel to the centerline of the shell in a compression stroke, the faces of said non-,wedging sets being relatively shiftable in release to facilitate collapse ofthe friction unit, each of said elements 'being of like construction. f'

10. In a friction shock absorbing mech,- anism, the combination With a friction shell having opposed friction surfaces on the interior thereof; of a spring; opposed friction shoes within the shell, said shoes, at each in and outer set of ends thereof, having opposed faces inclinedl to the axis of the.

shell, one inclined face of each opposed set extending an acute Wedging angle and the other at an obtuse releasing angle; and an element at each end of said shoes havingy correspondingly inclined faces cooperable with said adjacent respectiveinclined faces of the shoes.

ll. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having opposed friction surfaces on the interior thereof; Aof a spring; opposed friction shoes Within the shell, said shoes, at each inner and outer set of ends thereof, having opposed faces inclined to the anis of the shell, one .inclined face of each pposed set extending at an acute Wedging angle and the otherat an obtuse releasinr angle; and an element at each end of said shoes having correspondingly inclined faces cooperable with said adjacent respective inclined .faces of the slices, the blunt releasing angle facesat one end of the shoes being on the opposite side of the; center line to the blunt angle releasing faces at the other end of the slices.

l?. ln a friction shock absorbingl mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having opposed friction surfaces on the interior thereof; of a spring; opposed friction shoes Within the shell, said shoes, at cach inner and outer set of ends thereof, having opposed faces inclined to the axis of the shell, one inclined face of each opposed set extending at an acute Wedging angle and the other at an obtuse releasing angle; and an element at each end of said shoes having correspondingly inclined faces cooper-able With said adjacent respective inclined faces of the shoes, the outer one of said elements being adapted to directly receive and transmit an actuating compressing force.

i3. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior longitudinally `extending friction surfaces; of a spring; opposed friction shoes frictionally cooperable With the surfaces of said shell; an outer element; and an inner element, each of said elements having l-:een angle Wedging engagement With K shoe and blunt releasing angle engagement With an opposed shoe.

ln Witness that l claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of June, 1920.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. llitnesses z CARRIE GAILING, UNA C. Grasser. 

